Protecting Highway 108’s Communities, Economies, and Watersheds (SNC1837)

The Sierra Nevada Conservancy is amending grant agreement 1837 with Tuolumne County to provide additional funding for the implementation of approximately 60 acres of fuelbreaks. This effort is part of a larger initiative to establish between 339 and 594 acres of fuelbreaks in eastern Tuolumne County to protect infrastructure and local communities from catastrophic wildfires. The project is integrated into the Social and Ecological Resilience Across the Landscape (SERAL) 2.0 plan, developed by the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite Stanislaus Solutions. The scope of work involves roadside thinning to reduce ground and ladder fuels up to 12 inches in diameter using a combination of pruning, hand-thinning, and mechanical mastication. These treatments will be executed at three specific locations along Highway 108 within the Stanislaus National Forest, specifically near the communities of Pinecrest, Long Barn, and Arastraville. The project is designed to facilitate fire-suppression access and create anchor points for future forest management. Environmental compliance has been addressed through NEPA reviews and a statutory exemption from CEQA under Public Resources Code section 4799.05.